Nissan to triple number of EV fast-chargers in the U.S.

Sights like this will soon be more commonplace across the U.S. with Nissan planning to roll out more than 500 new quick-charging stations across the country

Nissan is looking to make it easier for U.S. owners of its LEAF and other electric vehicles to charge their batteries when out and about. Over the next 18 months the automaker plans to add at least 500 quick-charging stations across the country, with the roll out to include the first fast-charge network for the greater Washington D.C. area.

Nissan estimates there are currently only around 160 fast chargers available for public use across the U.S., a number that is sure to exacerbate many an EV owner’s range anxiety and keep many of them tethered fairly close to home. A tripling of the existing fast-charger count will provide additional charging options and, Nissan no doubt is hoping, improve sales of EVs.

In partnership with NRG Energy, whose eVgo Network currently operates in Houston and Dallas/Fort Worth, Nissan says it will work with its dealers and local municipalities to provide extra charging options through its dealer network, workplace campus locations and within local neighborhoods where drivers spend the bulk of their time.

A major part of the charging infrastructure expansion will be a network of 40 eVgo Freedom sites across the greater Washington D.C. area that will each have a Nissan fast charger that can provide an 80 percent charge in less than 30 minutes. NRG has also announced similar networks for the San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego and San Joaquin Valley areas.

As well as the 500 public fast-chargers it plans to install in the next 18 months, Nissan says it is looking to increase on the roughly 1,500 charging stations currently available in workplaces by getting companies who already offer such technology to share their experiences with companies interested in getting on board.

Darren's love of technology started in primary school with a Nintendo Game & Watch Donkey Kong (still functioning) and a Commodore VIC 20 computer (not still functioning). In high school he upgraded to a 286 PC, and he's been following Moore's law ever since. This love of technology continued through a number of university courses and crappy jobs until 2008, when his interests found a home at Gizmag.

Charging stations are great but don't forget - everything has a price. The cost is not just in dollars but there still remains the demand on the environment. Nothing is free! Even free energy still has a middle man.

donwine

The cost of not doing this is both in dollars and in our health. Electric cars will come, it is just a matter of time, but they are only the first steps. The demand on our environment by our present system of individual automobile use, especially in those cities listed, is what is unsustainable in urban life. Just the excess heat generated from all that inefficient transport in a small area affects weather hundreds of miles away from such cities, as well as swelling the use of urban air conditioning. That too is a poorly efficient process compounding the problem it seeks to solve.

Paul Gracey

I own a Nissan Leaf and I love it. We live in Leavenworth Kansas and drive back and forth to Kansas City on a regular basis. I have never ran out of charge. I pay 6 cents a kwh for electricity and it costs $1.46 to “fill up” my car. There are over 50 charging stations in Kansas City and most are free. I have never paid more than $21 for electricity in a single month. I drive the car about 1200 miles a month. I pay $178 a month for my lease. I was paying over $300 a month for gas in my Dodge Durango. I will never replace an air filter, oil and filter, muffler, spark plugs, alternator; clutch; fuel filter; fuel injectors and pump; motor mounts; O2 sensors; power steering fluid ; radiator and assorted pipework; serpentine belt; spark plug wires; starter motor; thermostat; timing belt; transmission or anything to do with regular transmissions (adjustment, fluids, filters) and a water pump again.
My Leaf is very fast and I can beat most gas cars off the line at stop lights. It has the power to zip into traffic from on ramps to highways with ease. The power and torque is immediate with an electric motor.
While driving the Leaf, I do not support terrorists (like the ones from Saudi Arabia that attacked us on 9/11). I support my Country by using totally American energy. My car can run on wind, coal, hydroelectric, solar, nuclear etc. A gas car will only and always run on gas. I am supporting American workers because the Leaf and its’ batteries are built here in America at the Nissan plant in Smyrna Tennessee.
I love the way the car drives, how quiet it is, how much room it has inside and the feeling of freedom I get by knowing that I am not tied to a pump and a slave to oil companies. The car has every tech gadget I could ever want including back up camera, GPS, XM radio, blue tooth and voice recognition. The car can even text me if I forget to plug it in at a certain time or when it is done charging. It also honks the horn if I put too much air in the tires.
These cars are getting better and more affordable every year. More and more charging stations are being installed daily. Home charging stations are getting cheaper as well and can be purchased at Home Depot and other such stores.
Do your own research and most importantly, go test drive an electric car and see if it works for you. It might not but if it does you will be a very happy camper. Speaking of camping, you can also plug an electric car in at RV sites :)